The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-09-01
Fernandina Mirro1.l
interstate Farners' Convention

FernAndtnA Mnr0f.l
Interstate FarAers' Convention.
The general tone OF the recent Interstate
Farmers Convention held ut Atlanta, was one
OF depression and gloom, II one were 10 judge
by the sombre character Of some of the papers
presented, and particularly those emanating
from Georgia. 1t was claimed that the value OF
farms had deprecated !; that debt had increased
and prices were so low that the farmer was not
only not making anything, but was running be-
hind. The causes of this state of things were
attributed to the lew price OF cotton, controlled
and fixed by syndicates in foreign markets, the
exactons OF the tariff, the unreliability of labor.
the cost of fertilizers, and consequent increased
cost of production. 1t was, however, shown and
admitted that the production had largely in
creased, not only in volume, but per acre, and
that many articles Of consumption were greatly
reduced in price.
This gloomy view of the subject was evidently
largely confined TO Georgia. The other cotton
States complained of some OF these things, but
on the whole regarded the agricultural interests
prosperous They felt many of these draw backs,
bat were not depressed by them; they would
like to make a larger profit and felt that they
ought to get more for their products, and COM
planned that the price was not fixed by any other
than arbitrary rule, by which their interests
were not all consulted; that it seemed to be the
policy TO give just so much encouragement as
would prevent the planter from ceasing TO Guilt
vale, but always to take care that he should not
get independent
OF course, the consideration of how To make
things better was the principal object to be
sought aftsr, and upon this topic many plans
and suggestions were made. A distinguished
planter from Mississippi Miles-in q
brief of-hand talk from the floor, seemed TO
give the most satisfactory solution. His first po-
sition was that the planter should - conduct his
operations As TO be able to withhold his cotton from
the market when the price was below the cost Of
production, which would consequently, II gener-
ally DONE be sure to enhance prices To do this the
planter should make himself Independent of ad-
vances by factors or Indebtedness to merchants.
He should not plant all cotton and buy every
thing he needed he should raise all his own sup
plies and buy nothing that he could raise at home.
The South pays TO the Northwea9 fifty millions Of
dollars per year for meat, nearly ell Of which
could be raised at home; il pays the Western
States twenty five millions per year for mules,
which could be mainly raised at home. General
Miles owned four hundred slaves bofore the war.
AT the close Of the war he was burdened with o
debt of $4,000, bearing 10 per cent interest.
With twenty crops he had paid Of this debt,
and was now independent in his circumstances.
He practiced what be preached, and he believed
Others could do the same. The Generals speech
made profound impression.
1t is hoped that the organization Of the agri-
cultursts of the cotton States will be productive
of permanent good. The convention was strong
representative body, and from the interest eyinc-
ed in the topics under discussion indicated the
earnestness Of its purposes